Kyle Dussault struck out nine and allowed just one earned run in nine innings to help Easthampton beat Hopkins 3-2 in 10 innings. (The Republican photo by Dave Roback)

WESTFIELD – The game that didn't want to start didn't want to end either.

After being postponed two days in a row, it took 10 innings for the Western Massachusetts Division III semifinal between Easthampton and Hopkins Academy to be decided at Bullens Field.

Chris Starcun's two-out single knocked in Matt Robinson for the winning run in the top of the 10th and Easthampton held off a rally in the bottom of the inning by Hopkins as the Eagles topped the Golden Hawks 3-2 in a nip-and-tuck battle from start to finish.

“Wild – that's our second extra inning game against them,” said Robinson, referring to the team's 11-inning win over Hopkins in late May. “This is big.”

And Easthampton (18-5) is headed for the big-time, with the fourth-seeded Eagles set to play No. 7 Pioneer Valley Regional (16-7) in an all-Hampshire League Division III final Saturday at noon at Szot Park in Chicopee.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Easthampton's Kyle Dussault, who gave up one earned run in nine innings. “It was tight the whole way. It's an amazing experience.”

The whole game was amazing. Easthampton's Thomas Lucia, who severely injured a knee in a preliminary win against Frontier, ripped a two-run single with one out in the top of the seventh to knot the game 2-2.

Both teams had chances to score in the eighth and ninth, but great defensive plays by Hopkins center fielder Jamie Garand and second baseman Rob Cooke, and Easthampton second baseman Jeff Van Oudenhove saved runs and kept the game tied.

Easthampton closer Matt Gilbert relieved Dussault in the 10th. Hopkins threatened with runners on first and third with two outs before the right-hander got the final out on a grounder to Lucia at shortstop.

“It meant a lot more this time,” said Gilbert, of entering in relief. “I just wanted to finish it for Duss. He put it all out there for us.”

Banas pitched all 10 innings for top-seeded Hopkins (17-4). The senior left-hander finished his career with 415 strikeouts.

“Congratulations to Easthampton,” said a teary-eyed Pat Lemieux, coach of Hopkins. “It was a battle. It was probably one of the best high school games I've been a part of.

“It just wasn't meant to be for us today. Garrison threw his heart out. We just didn't come out on top today, and it wasn't for a lack of effort.”

Banas doubled and scored on an infield error in the third, and Aiden Barrett singled home Evan Delaney in the sixth as Hopkins led 2-0 headed into the seventh. Tad Boruchowski walked and No. 9 hitter Anthony Szol bunted for a hit before Lucia cracked a 3-2 pitch to center field to plate both runners.

Easthampton last reached the Division III final in 2003, and hasn't won since 1983. Pioneer is in the championship for the first time since taking three titles in a row from 1998-2000. Easthampton beat Pioneer twice in a five-day span in early May.